A man is due to appear in court charged with trafficking a seven-year-old girl for domestic servitude and sexual abuse.
It follows several months of advocacy by Hope for Justice’s legal support officer in Ethiopia, to defend the survivor’s rights and call for justice in her case.
In an incredible show of love, the survivor’s pregnant sister made a nine-hour journey to stand alongside her as she bravely gave her testimony during the trial in the Federal High Court. There is due to be a final hearing later this month.
Zewdnesh Zugeye, our Legal Support Officer in Ethiopia, said: “There has been a long wait for freedom and justice in this case – and of validation for the survivor’s courage and resilience. The survivor’s pregnant sister, with whom she had confided her abuse, demonstrated a profound commitment to her sister and to justice by agreeing to travel several hours from her home to Addis Ababa for her sister’s testimony. This was the first time Hope for Justice has brought back a survivor to stand as a witness after reintegration. This has been deeply emotional for the whole team.”
Promises of a better life lure Kiya away from home
The survivor, who we will call Kiya* to protect her identity, is now 14 years old. But she was just seven when she was trafficked from her home in the Chencha district of the Gamo Zone, in Southern Ethiopia. Her family was in extreme economic difficulty at the time, and the trafficker preyed on this vulnerability by promising them a better life.
Kiya was forced into domestic servitude, where she was trapped for seven years – without receiving any pay. She faced physical and emotional abuse as well as one year of sexual abuse. She was made to cook, clean and serve, but was not treated as a human.
Disclosing sexual abuse and exploitation
Whilst under the control of this perpetrator, Kiya was allowed to attend school. When she began learning about reproductive health, she confided in her classmates. They in turn alerted teachers who contacted the police.
A child studies in class. Photo, Robin Hammond
The case was referred to Hope for Justice’s team in Ethiopia and we invited Kiya to stay at Deborah Lighthouse. This is our short-term aftercare centre for girls who have been trafficked or who are at risk of exploitation.
Aftercare at the Lighthouse
When Kiya first arrived at the Lighthouse, she was deeply traumatised and depressed. She struggled with low self-esteem, found it difficult to communicate, and was anxious about her future.
Meskerem Ayele, the survivor’s social worker, said: “When we first met with the child, she was frightened and withdrawn. My first focus was for her to know she was safe and to build trust.”
The team helped Kiya to understand gender-based violence, and delivered holistic, trauma-informed care. They held individual and group counselling sessions and worked on de-stressing activities.
Creative therapy at the Lighthouse
Gradually, we saw positive changes in Kiya’s recovery; her self-esteem improved significantly and she began to communicate more easily. She learned to stand up for her rights, and engaged in social activities with her peers.
Legal proceedings
Meanwhile, our legal support officer also provided child-centred support for Kiya, including a legal assessment, counselling, and representation through court proceedings.
The trial lasted about seven months, with Kiya’s classmates and teachers called as witnesses.
Our legal support officer and Lighthouse team worked with Addis Ababa Police and Addis Ababa Bureau of Justice to ensure that the proceedings were trauma-informed.
At the time of reintegration, Kiya was still awaiting resolution of her legal case. Our team continued to advocate for her and made arrangements for her to return to give her testimony.
Reintegration and fearing repercussions
Kiya was fearful about her family’s financial situation, whether she would be able to continue her education, and of retaliation from her abuser. She did not disclose the legal case to her family, except to her pregnant sister, because she wanted to continue her education without social pressures. She was also concerned about repercussions in the future, such as the sexual abuse impacting her future marriage prospects.
Hope for Justice prepared Kiya emotionally for the reintegration, explaining the process and helping her manage her fears and expectations. Over time, there were small positive changes; Kiya began to smile again, she participated in activities and joined in with life skills sessions. We worked to safely reunite Kiya with her family.
Keeping Kiya safe
We have continued to follow up on Kiya’s legal case, ensuring that the confidentiality of her case is maintained to avoid social stigma, and to ensure she stays safe.
She returned to court to give her testimony. She is now also back in school, and living safely with her family.
Hope for Justice’s advocacy transformed Kiya’s fear into a restorative part of her healing, affirming her rights and restoring her sense of justice. We are continuing to explore new ways to accelerate access to justice for survivors of human trafficking.
We will publish an update on the court outcome in this case after the final hearing later this month.
*Name and image changed to protect identity of the survivor
